parkhurst



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J. H. PAEKHURST.

ENVELOPE.

Patented Nov. 18, 1890.

Penn: co, mm-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. PARKIIURST, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

ENVELOPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 440,650, dated November 18, 1890.

Application filed March 31, 1890. Serial No. 346,022. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN H. PARKHURST, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelopes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in thoaart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates specially to that type of envelopes which is used in the postal and expressage service in the transmission of valuable letters or packages, and previously to delivery to the owners to whom they are addressed or for Whom they are intended are inspected by the government or express companys officials or employs; and it consists in a novel construction of an envelope for the purposes mentioned and other analogous uses, as will be hereinafter described and specilically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1. represents the blank piece of paper as it is cut to form my improved envelope and before it is folded, the surface shading indicating the portions which are gumm ed. Fig. 2 represents the blank as it is first folded. Fig. 3 represents the blank as it appears when folded to complete the envelope. tion of the front of the envelope with the corner-flaps bent over and pasted. This view is intended to show an envelope after a letter has been placed in it and to illustrate the way the opening-instrument is applied. Fig. 5 is a section on the line ac to of the envelopeblank as it appears in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional View on the line y 3/ of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a similar view to Fig. at, showing by dotted lines the cards in the pocket of the envelope, and illustrating the outline of a postage-stamp and how the address is placed. Fig. 8 is an e11- larged end view of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 shows a modification of the plan shown by Fig. 2, the corner-flaps being omitted. Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 7, and showing the corner-flaps inserted into slits instead of being pasted. Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the manner in which memoranda-strips having thereon record of transmission may be employed in connection with the pockets of the cnvel Fig. 4 is a represen ta:

opes, and which strips can be removed, together withthe bill and receipt cards, without entering the receptacle-chamber of the envelope.

The manner of constructing the envelope and using the same is as follows: The blank being cut and gumined, as illustratedl in Fig. 1, the major flap B is folded on the line 17 over and upon the body portion Aand secured by the gummed surface 0. Next, the said portion Bis folded back on the line b, so that the portion 0 of portion B shall lie directly beneath the portion 0 and be covered entirely by the same, thus forming a pocket 0 as shown more clearly in Figs. 5, 6, and 8. The portion 13 is next folded back upon the portion 0 and its end extended over upon the body portion and securely fastened to the gummed portion (1 of the minor flap D, said flap being folded at d, as usual, so as to unite, as shown, with flap B. This done, the folding of the upper flap E on the line a so as to have it covered by the flap F finishes the envelope. In all the figures of the drawings except Fig. 9 cornerflaps G are shown. These flaps are for the purpose of strengthening the envelope, and at the same time afford a means for retaining memoranda strips and cards, which may have been placed in the pocket 0 i In opening the envelope with a knife orother suitable instrument valuable matter contained therein is often injured. Especially is this the case in the registered-letter service,

and this danger my improved envelope avoids, as the receipt and bill-cards a may be sent in the pocket, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, and the same be retained therein by means of the corner-flaps G, and cards being thus sent the necessity for opening the letter becomes unnecessary at the department, inasmuch as the cards'can be removed by simply cutting the eornenflaps G. Should it not be desirable to dispense with the custom of sending the cards in the envelope, they can be placed, as usual, in the envelope, as illustrated in Fig. 6, and they can be removed by running the cutting instrument in the pocket 0 (see Fig. 4,) and the portion a of the major flap 13 will. protect the valuable inclosed matter from injury by the cuttinginstrument.

Another desirable feature of this improved envelope, especially for the registered-letter service, is that it will permit of the use of a regularly-stamped envelope being used, thereby dispensing with the inner envelope, which is a necessity now.

In Fig. 7 isshown the envelope with the outline of the printed stamp s thereon and the bill and receipt cards 0 shown in dotted lines inclosed within the pocket, these cards being kept securely in the pocket by thecorner flaps G.

The envelopes as at present used are very large, measuring about five by ten inches, and hence there is room for the address to be placed across the top alongside of the stamp, as shown in outline in Fig. 7, and leaving room below for the printing and notes as to transportation.

When using this stamped envelope, it will be found desirable, as before stated, to dispense with the inside envelope, and by making the envelope with small slits l, (see Fig. 10,) into which to pass the corner-flaps G, the pocket 0 can be opened and closed at will in its passage from one city to another, and by this provision for opening and closing the pocket 0 the printed matter, together with the record of its transmission, could be placed upon separate strips of paper and carried within the said pocket, and, as before stated, the same would be accessible at any time on the passage of theletter by simply pulling the flaps G out of the slits Z. This record could be carried loosely, same as the cards within the pocket 0 or it could be joined with the envelope at 0 (see Fig. 11,) and by the aid of weakening perforations c it could be removed and kept on file, ifdesired, and the envelope be delivered, with its inclosed package, without any injury to the same.

What I claim is- 1. The envelope formed with a letter or package inclosing receptacle, within which the letter or other valuable matter is sealed by means of a flap in the usual manner, and with a pocket or recess which is accessible Without breaking the seal of the envelope, and is adapted to serve as a receptacle for cards or memoranda strips or other matter, the envelope at the point where the said pocket is formed having a double thickness of paper, one portion being gummed to the other on one side and a double thickness of paper on the other side not united by gum or paste.

2. The envelope formed with a letter-inclosing receptacle, within which a letter or other valuable matter is sealed by means of a flap in the usual manner and provided with a pocket closed at its bottom, ends, and sides, but open at top, and accessible without breaking the seal of the envelope for the insertion of a cutting-instrument for cutting through the bottom of the pocket, the said pocket lying over a portion of the inclosed valuable letter, and thereby preventing the instrument coming in contact with the said letter or package, substantially as described.

3. The envelope formed with a letter-inclosing receptacle, Within which a letter or other valuable matter is sealed by means of a flap in the usual manner and provided with a pocket closed at bottom, edges,and sides, but open at top, and accessible without breaking the seal of the envelope, and with pocketretaining flaps, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signaturein presence of two witnesses. V

JNO. H. PARKHURST.

Witnesses:

G. M. OoPENHAvER, D. H. NAYLOR. 

